Especially for World Occupational Therapy Day, we are publishing some interviews with occupational therapists from Greece. These OTs give their views on occupational therapy. Moreover, these occupational therapists provide important tips for OT students.

Enjoy reading!

The first interview was with Ms Aikaterini Katsiana, a paediatric occupational therapist and professor of occupational therapy at the University of Western Macedonia. Unfortunately, she is no longer among us and this interview is in her memory. As a dynamic and fierce fighter, she contributed a lot to the field of occupational therapy and was always a support to all students.

Could you please introduce yourself? 

Hello, my name is Katerina Katsiana and I have been working as an occupational therapist for 23 years. I first studied kindergarten pedagogy and from there I entered occupational therapy with qualifying exams and continued by doing my PhD in psychology. I came across occupational therapy by chance while working as a kindergarten teacher with children and I loved it. 

Could you tell me your definition of Occupational Therapy? 

Occupational Therapy is a human-centred science that promotes health, well-being, prosperity and quality of life through occupation. It is aimed at people of all ages to engage them in all the projects and activities they need in their daily lives.

For how long have you been working as an Occupational Therapist? And what is the specific you’re working on? 

For 23 years now. In private centres, schools and at public universities. 

Currently, I’m working as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist.

For how long have you been working as an OT professor? 

Since the beginning of the establishment of the university in Western Macedonia in 2019. 

How do you choose a topic to lecture on? 

It is not difficult for me to choose! From the topics available in the literature of the World Health Organization and the university’s curriculum. 

Some advice and tips for Ot students around Europe? 

I advise them to always have good intentions for their patients, to understand that they are not in a position of authority with the beneficiaries, to rely on person-centred models and to respect the decisions and thoughts of the patient. Most importantly, be empathetic!

What would you say to your student-self from the past? 

I liked it from the beginning as a profession and wanted to search for my identity in it. A lot of people didn’t know what it was yet. I would insist that people learn about our profession.

Would you describe a typical working day in your occupational role? 

I am now involved in the teaching part and the basis of my daily work routine is to provide all my knowledge to my students to further develop occupational therapy. 

What do you think would help to achieve your goals in the service? 

Perseverance and constantly looking for new things, new techniques, new machines.

What challenges have you faced while going through a difficult situation? And how do you cope with it? 

One difficulty is seeing people with heavy functionality that you know and they know they won’t live much longer. Feeling the pain of others is hard to stay at a distance and not get attached. To them, you just try to show your support and help the family and children as much as possible. 

Current myths you have heard related to your area? 

Many people confuse occupational therapists with physiotherapists or think that our job is just to play with children. 

Do you want to say a word to OT students in the SPOT community? 

I would suggest that they work alongside themselves and get to know them first. Also, get involved in research and relax when they need to, so they don’t get burned out.

The next interview is with an OT who is the owner of a centre for occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychology. This person wishes to remain anonymous.

Could you please introduce yourself? 

I have been an occupational therapist for 9 years and I run my own occupational therapy centre in Veroia. 

Could you tell me your definition of Occupational Therapy? 

To me, occupational therapy is the offer given to each person who needs help to discover how much they can do, when everyone thinks they won’t be able to do it. It is a personal struggle with the individual to overcome their limitations and become independent and functional. 

What is the specific you’re working on? 

Pediatric occupational therapy. 

What would you say to your student-self from the past? 

Continue to read and try to learn as much as you can and as much as is offered at the university. 

Would you describe a typical working day in your occupational role? 

We start the sessions at noon and each conference is different since every child is different. The hours are long and the sessions are one after the other so we can work with all the children. Every evening, at the end of each day, all the therapists talk to each other and we discuss if any problems have arisen and let the parents know that the therapy is going smoothly. 

What do you think would help to achieve your goals in the service? 

I think that once one goal is achieved, I move on to the next with my main asset being perseverance and patience. 

What challenges have you faced while going through a difficult situation? And how do you cope with it? 

A lot of difficult situations with oppositional children who did not want to cooperate or children who suffered from epilepsy during the treatment. The only solution is patience, understanding and the support you can give. 

Current myths you have heard related to your area? 

I don’t think I have heard anything. 

Do you want to say a word to OT students in the SPOT community? 

Of course! I am so glad that there are young occupational therapists with enthusiasm and love for our profession and I hope they continue to strive for it. There will be difficulties, it will not always be easy, but never lose their goal and try to improve

The following interview is from an occupational therapist working in a multidisciplinary centre in Thessaloniki who wishes to remain anonymous. 

Could you please introduce yourself? 

Hello, I am an occupational therapist in Thessaloniki in a multidisciplinary centre and I work with all types of therapists on a daily basis. I have been working for almost 12 years as an OT.

Could you tell me your definition of Occupational Therapy? 

To me, occupational therapy is like art. Every conference is special, every time is different and every outcome is rare. Through it, you can offer smiles, make children happy and see parents calm down. The stress and pressure of parenting is gone and you are the one in charge and that is wonderful. 

What is the specific you’re working on? 

I’m doing pediatric occupational therapy now, but when I started I was working with older people. 

What would you say to your student-self from the past? 

Never give up! Do your homework, and strive for you and your future. 

Would you describe a typical working day in your occupational role? 

I mainly deal with organization and assessments. I assess the children, see their progress and help new occupational therapists with any problems that arise. Many times I go in the morning and leave at night but I love that. My job is my life.

What do you think would help to achieve your goals in the service? 

To keep trying for them. If you don’t fight for something, it doesn’t come naturally. You have to fight for everything and go after your goals. 

What challenges have you faced while going through a difficult situation? And how do you cope with it? 

I went through a phase where I wanted to give up. Everything seemed difficult and I didn’t like my job. Then I realized that I was not for the elderly and I turned to pediatric occupational therapy. And I loved it! When I realized how good I am and how much I love this profession, I continued with it. My biggest lesson was this. We can’t be good at everything and we can’t fit into all professions. It’s good to look for new things and new positions that fill us up. When I started pediatrics, it was hard. I didn’t know much about my master’s degree in stroke. But I read a lot and tried to learn and got to where I am now. 

Current myths you have heard related to your area? 

Myths are for fairy tales! Don’t listen to them and don’t believe anything. They say things, that it’s not a profession, that we’re nannies. Whatever anyone thinks without knowing. I’m angry at the devaluation we still receive today as a profession.

Do you want to say a word to OT students in the SPOT community? 

Dream and strive for your dreams. Don’t lose your goal and don’t think you won’t achieve it. We need you in the job market and I am so glad you are striving for the advancement and recognition of occupational therapy.

The following is an interview with the occupational therapist Konstantinos Georgiou, a professor at the University of Western Macedonia and owner of an occupational therapy center in Veroia.

Could you introduce yourself, please? 

Hello, my name is Konstantinos Georgiou and I’m a pediatric OT. I have a degree in music and I use music therapy in my conferences. 

I’m already working as an OT for 18 years, since 2005.

Could you tell me your definition of occupational therapy? 

This is a difficult question! Well, occupational therapy is a way to help people discover projects that are important to them and as they do so, to structure their self-image and be able to maintain it. That is, so they don’t feel they have to conform to a given context. It relates to empowerment and imagination, which has been lost.

What is the specific you working on? 

I’m working as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist.

How long have you been working as an OT teacher? 

I’ve been a professor for 3 years now. 

How do you choose a topic to lecture on? 

I study the documents beforehand and through discussion with colleagues we choose what is appropriate for the students.

Some advice and tips for Ot students around Europe? 

Try more, read a lot and be confident. Attend their classes and communicate with their teachers.

What would you tell yourself-student from the past? 

When I started I found this profession very difficult and I was very self-centered. If I were to start again, I would not do that.

Would you describe a typical working day in your professional role?  

It’s difficult working all the time, but it is a refreshing profession and I get to be in touch with all this subject matter and all these people who change the flow and the way we work together. I wouldn’t change it at all!

What do you think would help you achieve your goals in service? 

It takes hard work, study, perseverance and self- acceptance that you will fail but that’s okay. It’s all about having a dialogue with the parents and the child to understand what they want and help them.  

What challenges have you faced while going through a difficult situation? And how did you cope with it? 

There are many challenges, especially in the beginning. In the first ten years because of personal immaturity, it is difficult for the person to develop a therapeutic self. The difficult thing is to endure the course and it takes a lot of patience. What is needed is that there is no bias and that you are always available in therapy with a new self. The key is improvisation!

Current myths you have heard related to your area? 

I’m not really paying attention to those things. 

Do you want to say a word to OT students in the SPOT community? 

Attend classes and read, yes take the knowledge they are given and don’t stop trying.

Finally, the last interview is with Mr. Konstantinos Fragotsinos. He is an occupational therapist in a private centre in Veroia and a university professor at the University of Western Macedonia.

Could you please introduce yourself? 

My name is Frangotsinos Konstantinos and I am an occupational therapist in Veroia, Imathia. I’ve been an OT since 2010, So 13 years.

Could you tell me your definition of Occupational Therapy? 

Occupational Therapy is a profession that deals with people in need and we try to facilitate them by helping them in their daily tasks. To look for ways which can support them by doing something they desire and maintaining something they greatly desire. 

What is the specific you’re working on? 

I’m a Pediatric Occupational Therapist

For how long have you been working as an OT professor? 

2.5 years at the University of Western Macedonia in Ptolemaida. 

How do you choose a topic to lecture on? 

There is a course objective with the responsible professors who set the criteria for the course from the beginning. Then we look for themes from the literature, from books that can cover a thorough and general picture for the students. We examine these themes from all aspects and analyse them to make them understandable to students.

Some advice and tips for Ot students around Europe? 

Well, I would tell them to research more, to actively support the profession in the community to make it more known and to have them open to dialogue because of the constant changes in society.

What would you say to your student-self from the past? 

I would say to attend all the courses in relation to the ones I was taking. To read more because there is a gap between the practical and theoretical approaches to the profession and to be more active in the class. That is, by asking more questions and sorting out thoughts and ideas I had to understand what was being communicated to me. 

Would you describe a typical working day in your occupational role? 

Well, in the morning there is a preparation of the space and activities for the rest of the day and sometimes, we contact parents to discuss any issues that are of concern to them. Then, the children come in, we do the therapy, we update the parents and, usually, we don’t have time to communicate with the other colleagues. At the end of the day, we contact other parents or cut receipts for the services we provide. Within the conferences, we follow the assessment materials and do not work in a particular pattern, but with specialized approaches. 

What do you think would help to achieve your goals in the service? 

I think externalization would help me. Communicating with other colleagues. I think that after 13 years, at this stage that I’m, externalizing my thoughts and questions is an important part of being involved in the community. 

What challenges have you faced while going through a difficult situation? And how do you cope with it? 

When I got started and for my trial needs, the biggest level of difficulty was contact with parents. I was not prepared for that and there was no information and preparation from the university on how to cope with it. When I had to manage the parents’ anxiety about their children, which they do well and it shows that they care and want their child to progress, I found it quite difficult. I mean all that anxiety and need that each person expresses differently was difficult. However, in that case, I continued my supervision. I was reading, there are books on this, one can pursue individual psychotherapy to find the solution within oneself. Something else that has been difficult for me is working with a child and there is no improvement, perhaps high expectations of the therapist and family, which can take time for there to be a development from the person being treated. It is something that makes the therapist doubt the goals and the treatment plan.  

Current myths you have heard related to your area? 

I have closed my ears to more myths. The myths I have heard are from people who don’t know what occupational therapy is and say that it is a profession where you just play and do some exercises. They think that we keep the children busy, we are always caring and playing with them but that’s not all. It uses activity and games, you’re a caregiver, but the positions you can take as a therapist are not just that. You can support skills and task levels without play and the positions you can have can be educational. 

Do you want to say a word to OT students in the SPOT community? 

Yes, I would like to say from my own experiences to read more, externalize more, ask more questions, get a master’s degree, explore the profession more and develop diversity.

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